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Norfolk County Council said: "Our sole concern is for the safety of children and other spectators.

"We hope that the club’s actions will be successful and will not require any loss of capacity at the ground."

And what happens when the scenario is repeated? How many other Norwich fans will suddenly discover that they have to switch seats?

The loud-mouthed standers win again, as they do at many top clubs around the country.

Some fans watching from the stands

In the past, I’ve witnessed it at first hand at Old Trafford – in a section for the Manchester United home fans. I had to stand to see any of the game but not so lucky were the elderly couple in front of me, who were probably too frail to get up.

And I witnessed the same at Brighton & Hove Albion’s Amex Stadium, when I was among the boisterous away fans. I had to move at least three times to find a seat from which I had a clear view.

When a steward pleaded for them to sit down, he was told to go forth and multiply.

I’m not sure if there is a similar problem at Madejski Stadium but, from high up in the press box, you can see that most away followers do not subscribe to the bums-on-seats theory.

And it would appear that little, if anything, is done to rectify this by the security staff. Again, for fear of sustaining physical harm.

I can offer no solution but safe-standing areas, currently being explored, have to be the way forward – sooner rather than later.

Then those idiotic spoilers who choose to ruin it for others – as at Norwich - can be corralled in their own little nasty world, where they belong.

Don't forget you can keep track of all the Reading FC news on the getreading website and through Jonathan Low's Twitter account @jonathanl50.